DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS 185 



cholera is a living organism capable of enormously- 

 rapid self-multiplication — actual, though very minute 

 particles of matter. This, fully understood, makes it 

 apparent that infection may be carried in any way 

 that other fine particles of matter may be carried. 

 It thus becomes very apparent that the infection 

 may be carried by sick hogs or upon the legs and 

 bodies of hogs not sick ; it may be carried in wagon 

 boxes, in hog racks, in stock cars, or upon shoes 

 and clothing of people. It is very evident that the 

 infection may be carried down stream, especially 

 in small creeks, and give rise to other outbreaks. 



So far as the sick hog is concerned, we are quite 

 sure that the blood and the manure are thoroughly 

 infectious and there can be no question concerning 

 the infectiousness of fresh carcasses of dead hogs. 

 Perhaps we should say first of all that we rarely 

 get all of the accepted symptoms of hog cholera 

 plainly shown in one case. It is important to bear 

 in mind that cases vary in virulence from those of 

 very chronic type where hogs live for weeks and 

 finally die or recover, to very acute cases where 

 they die overnight. 



The hog coming down with cholera is usually 

 sluggish at first, lying around in the shade and re- 

 fusing feed. The hair may become rough. The 

 eyes early show symptoms of inflammation, with a 

 sticky discharge. There is usually a suppressed 

 cough. The gait may become irregular and uncer- 

 tain, especially with the hind legs. After these 

 preliminary symptoms have been shown for a time, 

 the skin becomes red, changing to purple, especially 

 noticeable in white-haired hogs. The hog is then 

 usually within a very few days of death. 



As already explained, not all cases are typical. 

 Sometimes hogs die in an outbreak of cholera from 



